Another month of updates!

On March 31st we officially concluded the regular wrestling season with Cameron competing at the Tournament Of Champs (taking 2nd place). SO PROUD of all he did this year. Kenzie is a proud little sister too!!! He is continuing to work hard in his Ringers practices 2 days a week. We celebrated by taking Cameron out Ice skating at the Kettle Moraine Ice Center. Cameron's good friend Auggie and his little brother Joey and their mom came too. I gave the twins the option to come and Clayton wanted to come but Calvin choose to stay at Auntie Wendy and Uncle Wes's house with Kenzie. It was an absolute blast. It was a very good thing that I only took one of the boys because I struggled with ice skating myself and I think Clayton did better then I did.

Cameron and Auggie

Clayton and Joey


Luckily they had these little walkers for the kids and Clayton and Joey used them great. After getting use to them they were like two little old men skating around - even telling the mom's to let them skate around without us around. It was a GREAT time and I am looking forward to taking Calvin soon!

April started off with it's own excitement. We had a good friend who's kids were diagnosed with Pertussis (whooping cough) and I was a nervous mother who had kids that were coughing too so took the kids to the doctor and Clayton got tested. The results take a day to get back so we were quarantined to the house while we waited for results. We also started everyone on the antibiotics just in case. Results in - NOPE!!! Yipee free at last. I could not have imagined 5 days like that but it was fun too ( I know I am weird but some down time was nice - no leaving the house) Stayed on the meds just to be sure no one got it.

Kids sure did not mind the doctors office.

Got ready for Easter by going to the community egg hunt.

Kenzie

Clayton, Joey & Calvin

Kenzie - The Easter Bunny - Clayton - Calvin

Never wanting the excitement to end around our house we also colored Easter eggs that night!


On to celebrate Easter! First finding our Easter baskets. If I recall correctly Kenzie's was on the shelf downstairs, Cameron's in his window in his room, Clayton's in the washer and Calvin's in the dryer. Then on to Church and over to Grandma Grace and Grandpa Dick for brunch and an egg hunt!!

Cameron

Clayton

Calvin

Kenzie

The Heesen Grandchildren!

Clayton, Kenzie, Cameron, Xavier, Isiah & Calvin after then hunt with their bags of eggs!

From their we stopped at my cousin's new house to celebrate my Aunt Nancy's Birthday. Another egg hunt for the kids there but only a brief visit for us as we had to keep on moving.

On to Grandma Jane and Grandpa Gerald's house for more celebrating. And you guessed it - Another egg hunt! The kids are really getting good at this!!!!

The Rettler Grandkids - minus Cameron.

Abby, Else, Lauren, Kenzie, Clayton, Kaylee & Calvin!

What a wonderful holiday and we are always blessed to have such wonderful families!!!

A week of spring break for the kids what should we do??

On Monday we went with some friends to LeFlores Gymnastics for some play time.

I took a couple video's but not many photos. This place is great and we will be going back again soon. This is Cameron on the rings - check out that foam block pit!!! All the kids had a blast.

Wednesday I wanted to keep busy so I took on some extra kids. My two nephews (ages 6 and 4) and my girlfriends 3 boys (ages 5, 3, and 7 months). Plus my own 4 for a total of 9!!! It sounds crazy but I had a blast and so did the kids. We played all day!!! This is my CREW!

Because it was needed and because I had more energy left after having 9 kids during the day I decided to take the little kids for haircuts.

Clayton

Kenzie

Calvin - Yes it is a Mohawk. But a fake one - well it just is his natural one done up!

Then moving on to our exciting weekend!!!!!! So Friday night I had to work for our big annual Recognition dinner. So Ben took the 4 kids and my mom and headed up the the Dells to my parents time share. My sister and brother in law and their 2 boys were also there. Dad and I planned to go up early Saturday morning. We had a GREAT work dinner and afterwards I called Ben to let him know I was leaving. It was late. He had to tell me about the little accident that Clayton had.

Can you tell what is missing????

THESE ARE!

Yep - Lost two of his teeth.

I joke now but at the time this was very traumatic for him and for all of us as well. (still is traumatic at times). They were all down at the pool - Clayton and Kenzie had to go potty and dad took them. After Clayton finished going he needed help with his swim trunks because they were wet and he could not get them up so dad was trying to help and Clayton's wet feet slipped out from under him. He fell forward and hit his teeth on the Urinal. Out they came. I am sure he will be very angry about this post some day but that is the true story. Dad, brother Cameron and Grandma Grace took him to the ER. Nothing they can do but be glad it is not worse and the teeth came out nice and clean (no this did not make me feel better) but all said and down it will be o.k.

I felt awful for not being there but daddy handled everything fine!! I arrived to inspect the damages in the morning. What a trooper! Daddy said he did really well!

We were not gonna let it stop our fun! We played at the playground, grilled out some burgers and went back down to the pool! Later Saturday evening we went to grab some dinner. Can you tell the kids were tired - it had been a long night and day and they crashed hard and this was before dinner!!

Luckily they did all wake up - although Kenzie slept through all of dinner and did not wake up till we put her back in the truck. Then it was off to Knuckleheads. That place was a blast. It is like an arcade, fun land, bowling, go-karts all in one.

The three little kids decided this was their favourite and must have went on it 10 times in a row. The would get out and get right back in line to do it again. They were pretty much the only ones going on it so they kept going over and over.

They also had a ropes course there. Cameron and Xavier tried it out but Xavier did not like it too much. I decided that I wanted to give it a try too. I did and was almost scared out of my witts but I conquered that fear. What a thrill.

We also got to go on the inflatables outside. Being the childish kid that I am I also asked to go and the nice lady let us do it to. I got to do the inflatable dinosaur slide and jump around on the HUGE jump-o-line thing. It was a lot of FUN.

Clayton and Calvin

Mom never stops having fun. I also took a ride on the horse!

Sunday morning was church and then Paul Bunion.

This was the kids being tough!

Clayton, Xavier, Calvin, Isiah (hiding), Kenzie and Cameron

Just our four kids!

Just could not help posting this picture. Sums up the week!!!!

What else is there to say? Just trying to love every minute of our crazy busy life and Thank God for our many blessings everyday!!!

What have we been doing since Colorado?

Truthfully I know we have been very busy but I have no idea why I was not taking pictures of it. Too busy I guess. Well we were in the thick of the Wrestling season for Cameron and doing a ton of other fun stuff of course. I did manage to capture a few cute pics. In February Cameron got to try out his first real experience snowboarding at Sunburst and the twins did some tubing with dad. Kenzie got left out of the fun this time. She got her own play date by Grandma and Grandpa Rettler!

Clayton is in front, Cal and Cameron - ready for the cold!

Cameron asked to bring his friend Cali from school. Just to clarify - NO DATE!!! Just a friend.

Mom thinks he looks like a pro!

Lucky Cameron and Cali's friend Nick happened to be there to save the day. Lesson learned no taking 2 - 10 year olds snowboarding that have no idea what they are doing and not putting them into lessons. Nick saved the day and taught Cameron to snowboard. Cali switched over to skiing and she did GREAT.

So as I said before most of February and now March has been WRESTLING. Cameron had a great season - He took 3rd at Regionals - which means he did not make it to state but man did that kid work hard this year again and did a FABULOUS job. We actually are wrapping up the end of his regular season with his final tournament this coming Saturday and he asked to join another club wrestling for Grecko Roman & Freestyle (Ringers in Milwaukee) which started this past Monday night. So while is regular wrestling is over he will be training with Ringers two nights a week till June. Then baseball will be in full swing, keeping both him and us running all the time.

Kenzie loving some wrestling!

Cameron gearing up!

Cameron READY TO GO!!

So we also have been making tough decisions around here. With the help of the twins teacher we have decided that it would be best for both of them not to move on to 5K next year yet. I struggled with this as they have made great friends in their current 4K class who will be moving on but it is best to give them the extra time they need. Sometimes I am sad about holding them back, other times I am sure we are doing the best thing for them. They have those dreadful summer birthday's and are already some of the youngest in their class so it will be fine but I am so fearful that next year they will be sad when their friends from this year are in 5K and they are in 4K again. I am sure the extra year will help them mature and on a selfish note I also get a little more time with them before they start school full days. Their teacher has done a great job starting to talk with them about needing helpers for next year and Calvin is very excited to play this role!!

Anyway they have been spending a lot of time with one of their good friends from class - Geyer!
Enjoying the early summer days!

Clayton, Calvin & Geyer

Kenzie also enjoying the early summer days!

What else is there? Ben's working way to much! He is dedicated to his job and I am very proud of him for that. I am actually getting back to a regular schedule and sticking to my 20 hours a week more and more. All the kids are growing to fast! The twins just started a little t-ball clinic and they will be doing a tennis class on Saturday's, I want to enroll Kenzie in dance but have not found what I want just yet, Cameron is wrestling his butt off and doing good in school. Can not believe that summer is almost here!! Hope you are doing well also!

Finally the rest of the Colorado trip!

Ok so finally getting back to finishing the remainder of our trip now that we have upgraded our Internet speed this is a breeze. So we were on day number 5. We hung out again at the HUGE HOUSE. This place was incredible. Here are some pictures of it. The pictures do not do justice to the actual size of this place. But at least you will have an idea.

This is the basement area. Complete with pool table and Foosball. Also a big TV, another bedroom and bathroom. This is were the big boys (Cameron, Colin & Quintin) got to sleep. They loved having their own floor of the house.

The little kitchen area in the basement.

Main floor sitting room.

Main floor kitchen.

Main floor formal dining room.

Stairs to the upper floor.

One of the bedrooms upstairs

This is the master bathroom in "our" room. Now that being said......

This was were we decided to camp out for the three days.

Yep in the walk in closet of the master bedroom. It worked great for a quiet little sleeping cove for the kids and they did great.

Ben checking out the sleeping quarters.

Calvin

Clayton in his "tent"

After exploring the house and hanging out most of the day we went out for dinner to celebrate Tony's retirement with his co-workers and friends. It was a great time! Then back for some more celebrating at the house!!!

The next day was the retirement Ceremony at the Air Force Base. It was really cool!!!! Even fun. The kids behaved pretty good and we made it without any meltdowns.

Tony and his Commanding Officer.

Buffy receiving her award for helping make this all possible for Tony by taking care of the kids and everything else while he worked.

The family!

Back to the house to PARTY!!! A movie for the little kids!

And a party for the big kids!!!

The night owls! Wade, Cheryl, Buffy, Tony, Ben & I.

Tony, Heather, Buffy & Ben. Why can't we live closer????

Heather and Buffy. Funny how time changes things. Friends for life NOW.

Ok more pictures of the kids sleeping in the big closet because it was just to cute!

Calvin & Kenzie

Clayton

Thursday - final day was pack up and head out day. BOO.. Had such a great trip. Fun, exciting, relaxing. Everything vacation should be. Even the trip home went well. Perfect TRIP. Perfect time with family and friends! Would love to go again!

Calvin on the way home. Pooped out!

Kenzie and her airport treats!
Clayton - Oh I don't know. I just thought the picture was funny - I am not sure what he was thinking but I imagine it was not good. I actually think he was showing us a boo boo on his finger but it is still funny.

Cameron doing homework on the plane on the way home. School tomorrow!

So that was our trip. Only took me two months but I did get it all on here! Hope you enjoyed sharing our first official family trip out of state. What a BLAST.